Niche dating to love bombing: Unique trends of modern dating you should know

Image for representational purposes only. Photo Courtesy: iStock

The rise of digital dating platforms, artificial intelligence, and changing social norms have significantly influenced how Gen Z and millennials perceive and experience love and relationships. The Indian dating app QuackQuack, having over 30 million users, gathered data from users across India to delve deeper into the fascinating trends and intricacies of modern romance.

The two-day online audience analysis saw 14,000 participants, primarily from Tier 1 and 2 cities. Individuals ranging between 18 to 35, 56 per cent male and 44 per cent female, joined the poll and answered a carefully drafted questionnaire.

QuackQuack's founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, "We are very close to having 30 million users, and there couldn't be a better time to get a clearer picture of the current dating trends. For instance, niche dating is huge today. 44 per cent of our users prefer tailored matches based on their specific preferences over traditional trial and error dating."

Niche dating
The survey indicated a rise in the trend of niche dating. 44 per cent of dating individuals, male and female, remarked it is more effective to find tailored matches based on their specific interests, lifestyles, or communities. The traditional way of online dating - the trial and error method, as the Gen Z dating individuals called it, takes more time and effort; the chances of error can take an emotional toll, too.

Niche dating focuses on compatibility beyond the surface level. For instance, an avid reader would scope through profiles and find one that mentions reading or anything that indicates a potential match's love for reading, and based on this shared interest, connect. These individuals mentioned that a dog-lover would not have to date a cat-lover and fight about what's better, or a movie buff need not have to explain how it is the best form of media to their match; people can shift their focus from explanations to what's more important, building a connection.

Personalised matchmaker
The survey shows that a substantial 34 per cent of QuackQuack users from metropolitan areas and smaller cities rely significantly on the app's newly introduced personalised matchmaker feature. This tool offers invaluable advice on enhancing user profiles, thereby attracting higher-quality matches.

Interestingly, 23 per cent of male users below the age of 28 find the suggestions on profile improvement, such as strategically mentioning details in the bio section and crafting an effective first message, to be the most beneficial aspect of this feature. Whereas 21 per cent of female users appreciate the safety tips provided by the feature, considering them as the most valuable component.

AI-generated response
According to the survey results, more than 13 per cent of men and 8 per cent of women use AI tools to craft the perfect first message or even respond to their match to impress them with wit and humour. It has refined the way people communicate. While 21 per cent of dating individuals find it harmless, the vast majority think AI-generated responses take away from the authenticity of the interaction. The wit used to impress a match is not their own, say individuals against it. You will be evaluating your match based on how they speak, but the voice is not quite their own. Delving deeper into the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in fostering relationships, these dating individuals think such a practice can corrupt genuine intimacy.

Love-bombing
The study has highlighted a concerning but not typically toxic trend - love bombing. 28 per cent of Tier 1 and 2 women in the dating age group expressed concerns about this phenomenon, which involves individuals showering their romantic interests with intense love and attention on their match during the initial stages, only for the affection to significantly diminish once the pursuit or the chase is over. Love-bombing, while not new, has found new avenues in the digital realm, making it difficult to distinguish genuine affection from manipulation. This blurring of emotional authenticity poses a challenge for modern dating individuals, raising questions about the sincerity of affectionate gestures in relationships.